The Black Mages
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| The Black Mages | |
|---|---|
 Left to right: Arata Hanyuda, Kenichiro Fukui, Nobuo Uematsu, Tsuyoshi Sekito, Keiji Kawamori, Michio Okamiya |
|
| Country | Japan |
| Years active | 2003 - present |
| Genres | Instrumental rock Progressive Metal |
| Labels | Universal Music |
| Members | Nobuo Uematsu Kenichiro Fukui Tsuyoshi Sekito Keiji Kawamori Arata Hanyuda Michio Okamiya |
The Black Mages are a Japanese instrumental rock band formed by Nobuo Uematsu,[1] composer for various video games in the Final Fantasy series. The band arranges Uematsu's musical compositions in a rock style[1] often similar to progressive metal, achieved with the additional use of synthesizers.
The band has released two studio albums, the first containing only combat-related instrumentals. It was released eponymously as The Black Mages in 2003. The second album—The Skies Above—was released in 2004 and features a wider array of pieces. Guest vocalists Tomoaki Watanabe (as "mr.goo") and Kazco Hamano appear on separate tracks, and an original track titled "Blue Blast - Winning the Rainbow" was created for Japanese K-1 fighter Takehiro Murahama.[2] The Black Mages have appeared on several other video game-related (mostly Final Fantasy) albums. According to Uematsu, The Black Mages will produce their third album in the near future with an extra disc centered on Japanese mythology.[3][4]
Live performances are rare, with only two concerts that celebrated album releases. The first—"The Black Mages LIVE"—was held in Shibuya, and later released on DVD exclusively to fanclub members. A second concert—"LIVE above the sky"—was held in Kawasaki City and similarly released on DVD to fanclub members. However, The Black Mages have made appearances in various Final Fantasy-related concerts, such as "VOICES" and "More Friends."
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[edit] History
In 2000, Square Enix employees Kenichiro Fukui and Tsuyoshi Sekito formed an experimental partnership to compose for the All Star Pro-Wrestling video game in a rock music style. After the video game's success, the two continued to compose in the same style. In 2002, Fukui and Sekito decided to arrange some of Nobuo Uematsu's compositions. Uematsu, a fan of rock music, enjoyed the rock arrangements. Regretting that the public would not be able to appreciate them, he decided to form The Black Mages.
In 2003, Kenichiro Fukui and Tsuyoshi Sekito arranged, interpreted and sequenced 10 combat themes from various Final Fantasy video games, with Nobuo Uematsu as producer. An album containing these tracks was released eponymously on February 19, 2003. After being met with success, Uematsu decided to organize a concert in tribute to the album. Fukui chose to play keyboards, while Sekito chose to play guitar. Because this was not enough to perform the arrangements, several members from Square Enix joined. Keiji Kawamori joined to play bass guitar, Michio Okamiya to play guitar, and Arata Hanyuda to play drums. With persuasion from the group, Nobuo Uematsu began playing keyboards. The Black Mages performed on April 26, 2003 at Shibuya-AX in Tokyo. This was followed by a 30-minute performance at the Kanagawa University festival on November 3.
At the beginning of 2004, Nobuo Uematsu announced the prospection of a second album was. Later in July he announced that the album was in the recording stages. Earlier on April 21, an arrangement album for the Dark Cloud 2 video game titled Dark Chronicle Premium Arrange was released. It features the first full appearance of The Black Mages on a studio album, who were asked by TEAM Entertainment (the publisher) to arrange and interpret "Flame Demon Monster Gaspard." On December 22, 2004, The Black Mages II: The Skies Above was released. The Skies Above features a wider array of pieces by not focusing on battle themes, unlike the first. Additionally, The Skies Above features vocal tracks written by Alexander O. Smith, the translator for Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy XII. "Otherworld" was sung by Kazco Hamano and "The Skies Above" by Tomoaki Watanabe (as "mr.goo"), while "Maybe I'm a Lion" features a small vocal introduction by Alexander O. Smith. In 2005, the album was the subject of a concert on January 22, January 23 in Kanagawa and January 28 in Osaka.
[edit] Band members
- Tsuyoshi Sekito — Guitar
- Michio Okamiya — Guitar
- Nobuo Uematsu — Organ
- Kenichiro Fukui — Keyboard
- Keiji Kawamori — Bass
- Arata Hanyuda - Drums and Percussion
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
| Date | Title | Notes |
| February 19, 2003 | The Black Mages | During an interview, The Black Mages stated this album utilized sequenced drum tracks. This was not repeated in the following album.[2] |
| December 22, 2004 | The Black Mages II: The Skies Above | Their first album to feature vocalists, "Otherworld" is performed by KAZCO and "The Skies Above" by mr.goo in a quasi-operatic style reminiscent of power metal. |
[edit] Videos and DVDs
| Date | Title | Notes |
| 2003 | "THE BLACK MAGES" LIVE | A promotional DVD given to Nobuo Uematsu fan-club members. Recorded in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. |
| 2006 | LIVE "above the sky" | A promotional DVD given to Nobuo Uematsu fan-club members. Recorded in Kawasaki City, Japan. |
[edit] Appearances
| Date | Title | Notes |
| April 21, 2004 | Dark Chronicle Premium Arrange | "Flame Demon Monster Gaspard" |
| September 28, 2005 | Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children - Original Soundtrack | The Black Mages, together with orchestration conducted by Koji Haijima, performed "Advent: One-Winged Angel" arranged by Shirou Hamaguchi. |
| September 20, 2006 | Final Fantasy III: Original Soundtrack | "Last Battle -THE BLACK MAGES Ver.-"[5] |
[edit] Concerts
The Black Mages have participated in several concert events.
[edit] "THE BLACK MAGES" LIVE
- J-E-N-O-V-A from FINAL FANTASY VII
- Force Your Way from FINAL FANTASY VIII
- Battle Theme from FINAL FANTASY VI
- Battle, Scene I from FINAL FANTASY I
- Battle, Scene II from FINAL FANTASY II
- Matoya's Cave from FINAL FANTASY I
- Those Who Fight Further from FINAL FANTASY VII
- The Decisive Battle from FINAL FANTASY VI
- Clash on the Big Bridge from FINAL FANTASY V
- Dancing Mad from FINAL FANTASY VI
- Fight With Seymour from FINAL FANTASY X (encore)
Shibuya-AX
- Date: April 26th to 27th, 2003
- Location: Shibuya-AX - Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Price: ¥4,200
This overnight concert introduced the song Matoya's Cave (which would feature in their next album) and included additional solos not seen in their first album. During the introduction of band members, Michio Okamiya performed a rendition of the Chocobo Theme and Nobuo Uematsu performed the intro to Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water."
Kanagawa University
- Date: November 3rd, 2003 (doors opened at 4:00 PM, commenced at 4:30 PM)
- Location: Kanagawa University, Auditorium #2 - Kanagawa, Japan
This free concert was part of the Kanagawa Jindai Festa. As Nobuo Uematsu graduated from the University they were performing in, The Black Mages all wore the student uniform colors (white shirt, black pants).
[edit] LIVE "Above The Sky"
- The Rocking Grounds from FINAL FANTASY III
- Zeromus from FINAL FANTASY IV
- Hunter's Chance from FINAL FANTASY IX
- Battle Theme from FINAL FANTASY VI
- Battle with the Four Fiends from FINAL FANTASY IV
- Vamo' Alla Flamenco from FINAL FANTASY IX
- Maybe I'm a Lion from FINAL FANTASY VIII
- Those Who Fight Further from FINAL FANTASY VII
- The Man with the Machine Gun from FINAL FANTASY VIII
- Clash on the Big Bridge from FINAL FANTASY V
- Otherworld from FINAL FANTASY X
- The Skies Above from FINAL FANTASY X
- Matoya's Cave from FINAL FANTASY I
- Blue Blast - Winning the Rainbow (encore)
Club Citta
- Date: January 22nd and January 23rd, 2005 (doors opened at 5:00 PM, commenced at 6:00 PM)
- Location: Club Citta - Kawasaki City, Japan
- Price: ¥5,000
Namba Hatch
- Date: January 28th, 2005 (doors opened at 6:00 PM, commenced at 7:00 PM)
- Location: Namba Hatch - Osaka City, Japan
- Price: ¥5,000
These concerts featured Kenji Ito who performed piano renditions of SaGa Series songs. Also featured were muZik, a group who performed seven Techno and Pop-style Final Fantasy arrangements.
[edit] More Friends
- The Rocking Grounds from FINAL FANTASY III
- Maybe I'm a Lion from FINAL FANTASY VIII
- Advent: One-Winged Angel from FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN
- Date: May 16th, 2005
- Location: Gibson Amphitheater - Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Prices: $40.00, $60.00, $85.00 and $120.00
This was The Black Mages' first appearance in North America. Advent: One-Winged Angel was performed with orchestral accompaniment.
[edit] VOICES
This was a concert featuring performances of various Final Fantasy vocal tracks. The Black Mages played Advent: One-Winged Angel (from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children) along with the Prima Vista Philharmonic Orchestra and GYA. The song was played a second time as an encore.
